The legendary death metal outfit Immolation keeps soldiering on. The band’s most recent output KINGDOM OF CONSPIRACY is pure evidence of how death metal is supposed to sound. The band hasn’t lost an inch in their brutal and deadly sounds instead keeping its recognizable trademark on the new album. Immolation’s guitarist Robert Vigna sheds more light on the new album.

New York death metal legends IMMOLATION have made a rebroadcast of the live video chat, which took place on April 29 with vocalist/bassist Ross Dolan and guitarist Bob Vigna, available here http://youtu.be/XPwfkzilYoA.

Kingdom of Conspiracy, IMMOLATION’s upcoming ninth full-length album and follow up to their 2010 release Majesty and Decay, will be released on May 14th in North America both digitally and physically via Nuclear Blast. Kingdom of Conspiracy was recorded at Sound Studios in Millbrook, NY with longtime producer Paul Orofino, and mixed and mastered once again by Zack Ohren (ALL SHALL PERISH, DECREPIT BIRTH, SUFFOCATION).

Fans of IMMOLATION can hear Kingdom of Conspiracy before it’s released at the Nuclear Blast Metal Night on May 9th in Los Angeles, CA. The event will take place at The Joint, which is located at 8771 W. Pico Blvd. The night is free to people 21 years old and up, and all those that show up are entered into a raffle for a chance to win a pair of tickets to their Santa Ana show with CANNIBAL CORPSE and NAPALM DEATH on the Decibel Magazine Tour. The night will also feature a guest DJ set by CHILDREN OF BODOM guitarist Alexi Laiho. For more information and to share this event with your friends, visit the following link: https://www.facebook.com/events/506385559420334/

You can now pre-order the Kingdom of Conspiracy on CD or limited-edition vinyl, with or without an exclusive t-shirt, while supplies last from the following location http://goo.gl/yY3wx.

New York death metal legends IMMOLATION have made a lyric video for the track “Indoctrinate” available here http://youtu.be/2j8nwPTaDrg. The track comes from the group’s upcoming ninth full-length album, Kingdom of Conspiracy. The follow up to their 2010 release, Majesty and Decay, will be released on May 14th in North America both digitally and physically via Nuclear Blast. Kingdom of Conspiracy was recorded at Sound Studios in Millbrook, NY with longtime producer Paul Orofino, and mixed and mastered once again by Zack Ohren (ALL SHALL PERISH, DECREPIT BIRTH, SUFFOCATION.

Fans of IMMOLATION can hear Kingdom of Conspiracy before it’s released at the Nuclear Blast Metal Night on May 9th in Los Angeles, CA. The event will take place at The Joint, which is located at 8771 W. Pico Blvd. The night is free to people 21 years old and up, and all those that show up are entered into a raffle for a chance to win a pair of tickets to their Santa Ana show with CANNIBAL CORPSE and NAPALM DEATH on the Decibel Magazine Tour. For more information and to share this event with your friends, visit the following link: https://www.facebook.com/events/506385559420334/

Fans of New York death metal legends IMMOLATION, can hear their new album Kingdom of Conspiracy before it’s released at the Nuclear Blast Metal Night on May 9th in Los Angeles, CA. The event will take place at The Joint, which is located at 8771 W. Pico Blvd. The night is free to people 21 years old and up, and all those that show up are entered into a raffle for a chance to win a pair of tickets to their Santa Ana show with CANNIBAL CORPSE and NAPALM DEATH on the Decibel Magazine Tour. For more information and to share this event with your friends, visit the following link: https://www.facebook.com/events/506385559420334/

The follow up to their 2010 release, Majesty and Decay, will be released on May 14th in North America both digitally and physically via Nuclear Blast. Kingdom of Conspiracy was recorded at Sound Studios in Millbrook, NY with longtime producer Paul Orofino, and mixed and mastered once again by Zack Ohren (ALL SHALL PERISH, DECREPIT BIRTH, SUFFOCATION.

You can now pre-order the Kingdom of Conspiracy on CD or limited-edition vinyl, with or without an exclusive t-shirt, while supplies last from the following location http://goo.gl/yY3wx.

New York death metal legends, IMMOLATION, have unveiled the artwork and track listing for their upcoming ninth full-length album Kingdom of Conspiracy. The cover imagery was brought to life this time by no less than Pär Olofsson (IMMORTAL, THE FACELESS, ABYSMAL DAWN). “The figures in the artwork have all been bound and chained and have their eyes and mouths sewn shut symbolically, showing the chilling of speech and the intentional blinding of the masses,” explains guitarist Robert Vigna. “They all make up the huge ominous structure behind them, which is symbolic of the growing security state as well as our failing structures today, and how they are slowly and methodically consuming and controlling us all. It has a very Orwellian feel to it, which is what we were going for since the album is very dark in a slightly different way.”

In regards to Kingdom Of Conspiracy’s lyrical content he continues: “The album deals with the world today and the slow unraveling and breakdown of our societies and the systems and structures behind them. It speaks of the human side to all this and how we have all lost our way and have fed into these very systems that are slowly coming apart. This is the common thread running throughout the album and the cover paints a very dark picture of the future, where these systems have completely absorbed our world, and our freedoms and we have become a part of the very fabric of these structures that we have created. Each song is a symptom of this mass sickness that has brought the world to the point it is at now, and we paint a very bleak picture of this slow and gradual breakdown and the human failures that sped this process along. This is the Kingdom of Conspiracy.”

The follow up to their 2010 release, Majesty and Decay, will be released on May 14th in North America both digitally and physically via Nuclear Blast. The album was recorded at Sound Studios in Millbrook, NY with longtime producer Paul Orofino, and mixed and mastered once again by Zack Ohren (ALL SHALL PERISH, DECREPIT BIRTH, SUFFOCATION).

Catch the band on the Decibel Magazine Tour this Spring with preeminent gore institution CANNIBAL CORPSE and rabble-rousing U.K. grind icons NAPALM DEATH. More details, including ticket info can be found at www.decibelmagazinetour.com.

New York death metal legends, IMMOLATION, recently entered Sound Studios in Millbrook, NY with longtime producer Paul Orofino to record their ninth full-length album. The follow up to their 2010 release Majesty and Decay, will once again be mixed and mastered by Zack Ohren (ALL SHALL PERISH, DECREPIT BIRTH, SUFFOCATION).

“Just got out of the studio a couple of days ago, here in Europe now getting ready to do some open air festivals,” commented guitarist and dead ringer for Anton LaVey, Robert Vigna. “The new album will have 10 tracks of some of the most intensely dark material we have ever written! Very powerful and very heavy. Steve (Shalaty – drums) really pushed it all to the limits on this one too.

Once again we went up to Millbrook, NY to do the main tracking. Paul Orofino got us some of the best sounds we’ve had yet! We were there for two weeks laying down tracks, having amazing Belgian beers at Paul’s in house bar ‘BarFunGul’, as well as plenty of BBQing! Throughout the time we were there we got through one blackout and dodged a very intense storm system that had the potential to cut our recording session real short. Luckily everything worked out. We still have to add some last touches on to the songs etc., as well as have Zack Ohren mix and master it all but so far everything is off to a great start.

Be certain that this new album will surely be one of our strongest yet. We look forward to getting it all finished up soon and getting it out there as soon as possible for the fans!”

Scion A/V announces the release of a new 5-track digital EP and a music video from Yonkers-based metal act Immolation. Scion A/V Presents: Immolation – Providence EP will be available as a free download via www.scionav.com. The EP will also be available for free in CD and vinyl formats at shows during the IMMOLATION NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2011 (schedule below) and at select Scion Partner retail locations.

Immolation was formed in the late ‘80s in Yonkers with domination in mind; and over twenty years later, they’re still going as hard as they did back then, touring tirelessly with their signature dissonant harmonics and complex rhythmic layers. Thanks to their efforts, the death metal scene in New York is now part of the burgeoning underground music landscape. This release showcases their trademark harmonic dissonance, along with their militaristic and complex rhythms while losing none of their signature menace. Scion A/V is proud to present Providence, Immolation-style.

“We’re excited to be working with such a unique band such as Immolation,” says Jeri Yoshizu, manager of sales promotions for Scion. “Their drive and diligence scream just as loud as their vocal, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.“

Immolation have been one of the purveyors of death metal in New York for multiple decades, and are responsible for bringing attention to a micro-scene that is now dominated by acts who strive to louder, faster, and harder than the rest. But in the end, without a group like Immolation, death metal bands wouldn’t have as a much of a chance as they do now to crack the collective underground. For more information on the group, check out: http://www.everlastingfire.com/

Track Listing:

1) What They Bring

2) Illumination

3) Still Lost

4) Providence

5) Swallow The Fear

Ticket Sweepstakes:

Scion A/V continues its support by announcing a ticket giveaway with a chance to win a pair in the city of your choice (US tour dates only). Held exclusively on Twitter, you will have to follow @Scionav and wait for the call to action on October 11th, 2011. With 36 pairs of tickets in total to giveaway, there’s a good chance your tweet can bring you front and center.

New York death metal legends, IMMOLATION, are proud to announce their second headlining run in support of their critically acclaimed release Majesty and Decay. Support will come from long running Wisconsin based death metallers JUNGLE ROT and experimental death grinders GIGAN.

“We are once again hitting the road here in the US in October and are really excited to have both JUNGLE ROT and GIGAN join us for this tour,” commented bassist/vocalist Ross Dolan. “We have some new material in the works and will be making a more formal announcement about this in the next few weeks. We look forward to seeing everyone again and hope to see some new faces as well as old at these shows.”

IMMOLATION’s latest release Majesty and Decay was recorded atSound Studios in New York with longtime producer Paul Orofino. Mixing duties were handled this time by Zack Ohren (DECREPIT BIRTH, SUFFOCATION, ALL SHALL PERISH). Cover art was created by Pär Olofsson (THE FACELESS, IMMORTAL, ABYSMAL DAWN).

As always, the top albums are for releases from 2010 that are full albums (no EP’s or demos). They also have to be new studio albums for 2010, not re-recordings, re-releases, cover songs, or live material. Below the combined TOP 30 are links to each staff members personal "best of" lists which besides the top albums contains such things as best new band, best DVD/Blu-Ray, disappointments of 2010, greatest hopes for 2011, personal metal discovery of 2010, and various other metal-related categories. Enjoy!

The Top 30 Heavy Metal Albums of 2010

(Click the album cover to read our review.

If no review is available the link it to the band’s MySpace page.)

1. Accept – Blood of the Nations

Wolf Hoffman’s reaction to the band’s #1 placement in our list was:

"Sensational!!! We are so happy about this reaction by the fans. This last year has been nothing short of phenomenal for Accept."

BLOOD OF THE NATIONS is a fantastic album, so fantastic that it very easily came out on top when we compiled our best of 2010 list! In the media, producer Andy Sneap said when he worked with the band he made them go back and listen to the 80’s albums, and it worked. Accept have delivered the album they needed to make. Accept reformed with a vocalist who is just as good as Udo Dirkschneider. Vocalist Mark Tornillo rages through the songs with power and charisma, without being a clone. Accept have proven to the world in 2010 they are still relevant, powerful, uncompromising and most of all entertaining. Welcome back!

2. Blind Guardian – At the Edge of Time

Easily the best and strongest Blind Guardian album since NIGHTFALL IN MIDDLE-EARTH with a maximum of variety and everything that has turned these guys from Krefeld into what they are today: one of Germany’s most successful and influential metal bands. With AT THE EDGE OF TIME, Blind Guardian returned to the fold in total triumph. This is an album to be enjoyed for numerous repeat listens. Newer fans should eat it up, and older fans should be appeased with the band’s renewed emphasis on their thrashy roots.

3. Ratt– Infestation

Ratt is Metal. Always have been and likely always will be. From their appearance on the very first Metal Massacre compilation in 1981 alongside the likes of Metallica, Malice, and Bitch, to the new 2010 album, Ratt have always been among the heaviest of the so-called "hair metal" bands. So despite what the revisionists may think, Ratt have a firm spot in the development and evolution of the Heavy Metal genre and have earned their spot in this year’s list. Sonically the Ratt Pack is back! The band had stated they wanted a real up-tempo record and distinctly aimed for the classic sound. They nailed it. It’s all there, the swagger and slight sneer of Pearcy voice, the fluid and fiery soloing of DeMartini’s axe-work, the complimentary work of Cavazo…it’s a beautiful thing to behold!

4. Triptykon – Eparistera Daimones

Thomas Gabriel Fischer (AKA Tom G. Warrior) has nothing to prove to anyone. As the principal architect behind Hellhammer and Celtic Frost, Fischer’s body of work is the reason that many bands exist today. Two years since Celtic Frost’s very public dissolution, Fischer could have easily opted to rest on his laurels and bask in the afterglow of his evil legacy, but nooooo. To the contrary, Fischer has assembled a new band and recorded an album of new material that’s arguably some of the best in his career. Triptykon is the band, EPARISTERA DAIMONES is the album, and yes – it’s as good as Fischer has promised it to be!

5. Melechesh – The Epigenesis

Black/Death/Middle Eastern "Mesopotamian Metal" extremists made a big impact this year. Originally from IsraHELL and now based out of the Netherlands, the band has been around in some form since 1993. That Melechesh are able to maintain the album’s early momentum through to the record’s dying moments makes what they have achieved with THE EPIGENESIS that much more remarkable. Unlike so much of what passes for modern-day extremity, every one of this disc’s eleven tracks bristles with its own identity and design. It will demand a lot of attention – this definitely isn’t the record to whip out at your next kegger – but the rewards far outweigh the investment. Absolutely superb in every way.

6. Helloween – 7 Sinners

Helloween are very comfortable right now. They are back on a major label, the line-up has been stable for probably the longest stretch in the bands history, and they have fallen into a great pattern of releasing a studio album every couple of years (right around Halloween naturally). Relaxed, confident and mature the band have nothing to prove but instead of delivering a complacent record, the band have delivered the fastest, heaviest album of their career. It’s their 26th release over and 13th full-length studio album of all-new, original material. Lucky #13 for the band sees a crowning achievement with 13 killer cuts spread across the hour. Helloween have delivered a masterpiece. It will quickly silence all the fans who couldn’t stomach UNARMED from earlier this year.

7. OverKill – Ironbound

The veteran New Jersey boys return with a compelling slab of unmistakeably old school thrash that is tinged with a fine mix of groove, progressiveness and melody that separates Overkill from the multitudes of carbon-copy thrashers out there. This is modern thrash the way it should be played: roots in the 80s but with its direction and ambition befitting a metal scene on the cusp of its 30-year anniversary. It’s a beautiful thing to behold: while most of their contemporaries have split up or sold out, Overkill are still doing their thing, updating and improving but never forgetting where they came from.

8. Nevermore – The Obsidian Conspiracy

Five years – that’s how long Nevermore made us wait for a sequel to the still awe-inspiring THIS GODLESS ENDEAVOUR. By modern-day standards that’s an absolute eternity, the length of which only the likes of Slayer or Metallica could reasonably be expected to get away with. Regardless of delay, the album is a perfect example of heavy metal in its purest, most intelligent and provocative form. As always the band defies classification with elements of power, thrash, prog, blended together into a mixture that is uniquely Nevermore.

9. Sabaton – Coat of Arms

Sweden’s war metallers, Sabaton, have been consistently moving to the forefront of the power metal movement in the last few years. COAT OF ARMS continues Sabaton’s fine tradition of power metal with bite. The band is in fine form throughout and do not disappoint. You listen to a Sabaton album for the pounding marches (“Uprising”) the fast assaults (“Midway”, “Screaming Eagles”), and the catchy hooks and choruses (every damn song!) and COAT OF ARMS has it all!

10. Halford – IV – Made of Metal

Finally! Halford was really overdue. Despite having a skeleton of a catalog, Halford really needed to put some meat on the bones of his solo career. MADE OF METAL is really only the third studio album of all new material in over 10 years. Sure the catalog looks impressive but in reality, live albums, demo albums, EP’s, digital only live albums and novelty Christmas albums are just filler. Halford needed to deliver the goods and we’re pleased to say he is still made of Metal. The album clocks in at a whopping 14 tracks at over an hour it is his longest solo album to date.

New York death metal legends, IMMOLATION, offered the following explanation for last nights cancelled performance at the Crazy Donkey in Farmingdale, NY:

“Unfortunately the show at Crazy Donkey had to be cancelled due to the extreme weather expected in Farmingdale. Local authorities advised the club to stay closed as they were expecting extreme weather conditions throughout the night. We were all at the club for about 3 hours waiting to see if the show was going to happen or not. We found out at about 5:30 that it was definitely off.

Ourselves and Vader , as well as the rest of the bands on the tour, were all ready to play and looking forward to the show. We all appreciate the support of the fans and appreciate everyone’s effort to make it out to the club. The cancellation turned out to be so last minute that it was very difficult to get much word out.

Thanks again for all the support and we look forward to playing in our hometown area of NY again very soon!”

IMMOLATION are currently on a North Americanheadlining tour in support of their Nuclear Blast debut, Majesty and Decay.Joining them are Polish death metal tank and label matesVADER, along withABIGAIL WILLIAMS, LECHEROUS NOCTURNE, andPATHOLOGY:

IMMOLATION’s latest release Majesty and Decay was recorded atSound Studios in New York with longtime producer Paul Orofino. Mixing duties were handled this time by Zack Ohren (DECREPIT BIRTH, SUFFOCATION, ALL SHALL PERISH). Cover art was created by Pär Olofsson (THE FACELESS, IMMORTAL, ABYSMAL DAWN). IMMOLATION recently wrapped the “Those Whom The Gods Detest Tour” as direct support to NILE.

New York death metal legends, IMMOLATION, recently played its first club show in seven years at New York City’s Webster Hall as part of the Blackened Music Series sponsored. Stream or download the concert at the following location http://culture.wnyc.org/articles/music-hub/2010/sep/08/no-cover-immolation. This link was brought to us courtesy of WNYC an NPR (National Public Radio) station.IMMOLATION willheadline a US tour this Fall in support of their Nuclear Blast debut, Majesty and Decay.Joining them will be the Polish death metal tank and label matesVADER, along withABIGAIL WILLIAMS, LECHEROUS NOCTURNE, andPATHOLOGY:

Reduced service charge tickets will go on sale today through www.Enterthevault.com. On sale at all major ticketing services after June 4, 2010.

IMMOLATION’s latest release Majesty and Decay was recorded atSound Studios in New York with longtime producer Paul Orofino. Mixing duties were handled this time by Zack Ohren (DECREPIT BIRTH, SUFFOCATION, ALL SHALL PERISH). Cover art was created by Pär Olofsson (THE FACELESS, IMMORTAL, ABYSMAL DAWN). IMMOLATION recently wrapped the “Those Whom The Gods Detest Tour” as direct support to NILE.

For the first time ever, IMMOLATION’s “Unholy Cult” is be available on picture disc vinyl this 17th July! The double-sided picture disc features the classic tracklisting and is a worldwide release limited to 500 pieces only with an exclusive cover art! A must-have for any death metal fan!

“Unholy Cult” is truly a masterpiece. Once again IMMOLATION has reinvented itself to create a darker, heavier and even more menacing atmosphere, with intensity and feeling like no other! From militant and twisted rhythmic marches to all-out monstrous assaults, this album will sink into your very foundation! The emotion and passion are strong in the lyrics and the vocal delivery, as they thunder massively through the heavens! The dueling guitars create pure misery like haunting winds through endless caverns, churning in and out of themselves, only to intensify, cutting at every edge of your soul, then heavier crushing down like a gigantic hammer! The lead work is a horrific melody. From soothing you into paranoia, to attacking you like lightning! And the drums are pure controlled chaos, with the energy of an atomic bomb, the precision of a marksman, and the human touch that holds it all together. IMMOLATION manages to create an unforgettable journey of dark orchestration as only they can.

“Unholy Cult” is like no album you have heard before. It will take you far and beyond what you can imagine in this music, reaching a new level in Death/Black metal. Once again IMMOLATION have set the standard, constantly progressing their unique style and toppling all boundaries in the process. “